Real Estate Investing in Plains, Kansas (67869)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Meade County • Population: 1,518 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 67869 (Plains, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 12.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Plains, KS (67869)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $137,249
Avg Monthly Rent $801
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,179
% Renters 27.1%

Market Analysis: 67869 Plains

This part of Meade County is not an easy win. The 67869 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $137K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 67869 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 67869's metrics run below Meade County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A healthy renter share of 27% in 67869 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The right play in 67869 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Plains:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $801/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Liberal, KS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
3.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Liberal, KS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$150K$136K$121K$107K$92K$78KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 67869 Compare?

Metric 67869 Plains Liberal, KS Kansas
Home Value $137,249 $137,249 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $801 $801 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 67869? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 67869 (Plains, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Liberal, KS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $137,249
Monthly Rent $801
Price-to-Rent 14.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
12.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 67869

Population: 1,518

💰 Median Household Income
$70,179
This area
$70,179
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.1%
This area
27.1%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.7%
This area
18.7%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.1 years
This area
31.1 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.5%
Other/Mixed 33.5%
Hispanic/Latino 29.8%
Black/African American 2.1%
👶 Under 18
31.7%
This area
31.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.7%
This area
10.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 67869

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
10.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,199 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Plains Elem

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
119 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,199 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Plains, KS?

Plains, KS median home values land near $137K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $801/mo-per-month rentals.

Does house hacking work in Plains, KS?

House hacking works a challenging in Plains, KS. Rents of $801/mo against $137K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Plains, KS?

Occupancy in Plains, KS runs stable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $801/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is Plains, KS good for landlords?

Plains, KS falls under KS landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Is real estate in Plains, KS a good investment right now?

Plains, KS rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $137K and rents near $801/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 67869 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 67869 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 67869 ranks in Liberal, KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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